Team America coach says Boomers can win gold as Aussies fend off ‘dirty’ play accusations

AUSTRALIA’S hopes of the most improbable upset in Boomers’ Olympic history were alive until the final seconds on a night when the national team bravely punched above its weight.

Patty Mills in action during the Boomers clash with USA

TEAM America coach Mike Krzyzewski has declared Australia can win Rio gold as the Boomers fended off accusations they played “dirty”.

Australia’s Boomers trailed by four points with 36 seconds remaining before the US won 98-88 in both teams’ third pool game.

It was one of the great moments for Australia’s Boomers, who had never before taken it up to the US so deep into a game.

Former teammates Kyrie Irving and Matthew Dellavedova facing off

US star Paul George told reporters after the match the Australians had a reputation for being a “little dirty’’.

Andrew Bogut handed out a hard foul that had Krzyzewski upset, but was no more physical than George, who copped an early technical on Matthew Dellavedova.

The “dirty” accusation is a tired refrain from NBA players towards hard-charging Dellavedova, who is beloved by players including former teammate Kyrie Irving for his passion.

“We knew we was going to get their best,” George said. “It was an adjustment for us. This game kind of got out of hand with the chippy, physical play.

“We knew that going in, this team has a knack for being a little dirty.

“You’ve just got to let them know it wasn’t going to go the way they thought it was going to go.

“We just had to match their physicality. That’s the only way teams are going to get us out of our comfort zone, is to muddy the game up, do the little stuff to get to us.’’

Aussie Boomers Vs U.S. Dream Team

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NBA champion Luc Longley, a Boomers assistant, said in response: “Tell ‘em that’s international basketball.’’

It came as Krzyzewski gushed about Australia’s fighting performance as Patty Mills dominated with 30 points.

“We beat a heck of a team,’’ Krzyzewski said. “Australia have played the best of anyone in the Olympics.

“We beat one of the best teams in the tournament. They are going to vie for a gold medal.

Team America star Paul George accused the Boomers of dirty play post-game

“We beat a team that was undefeated and played together for a number of years, playing really good basketball.

“(My team) can play better but don’t take anything away, Australia played a great game. We beat a good team tonight.’’

Matchwinner Carmelo Anthony agreed Australia played a tough game but said the US were ready for that contest.

“We kind of expected a game like this, a physical game, a grind-out game, from playing Australia over the past couple of years,’’ he said.

“We knew it was going to come down to the end of the game where we had to buckle down and make plays down the stretch.’’